Campus Dining has launched VanderBees, a new initiative that brings pollinators to the once-dormant Rand rooftop garden.
Under the guidance of Campus Dining’s master gardener Kip Bennett, two honeybee hives have been installed in the garden, supported by pollinator habitats designed to benefit native bees, birds and other insects. The effort contributes to Vanderbilt’s biodiversity goals while strengthening campus sustainability practices.
Wildflower beds invite pollinating insects and help develop a thriving ecosystem on campus. Plants currently in bloom include evening primrose, sunflowers, zinnias, California poppy, coreopsis and others, each selected to support robust pollinator populations.
The rooftop hives and flower beds demonstrate how creating habitat can generate local ingredients and inspire Vanderbilt’s culinary team. As the garden continues to expand, Campus Dining will explore ways to connect pollination to food production and increase the variety of hyperlocal products in its menus.
VanderBees marks the next step toward a more diverse campus ecosystem and creates opportunities to incorporate locally produced ingredients into Vanderbilt’s dining program. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen local food systems, building upon Campus Dining’s network of on-campus tower gardens and other near-campus suppliers.
The hives and garden can be observed from the second-floor windows of Sarratt Student Center. As the project grows, Campus Dining anticipates harvesting honey that reflects the campus’s unique flora.